Roots Manuva announced as first Nozstock headliner

2:03pm Thursday 27th February 2014

STEP into the Hidden Valley this summer to hear a hip hop legend and ruler of rhyme at work.

Roots Manuva has been confirmed as the first headliner of Nozstock: The Hidden Valley, which will once again offer revellers a slice or rural eccentricity at Roweden Paddocks, Bromyard, from Friday to Sunday, August 1-3.

The home-grown and handmade festival run by the Nosworthy family enters its 16th year and the British hip hop star is considered one of the most exciting bookings to grace the Orchard Stage in that time.

He will be bringing a new show to Herefordshire on the back of six successful albums, a Mercury prize nomination and a Best Hip Hop Act MOBO.

Organiser Ella Nosworthy said: "It will be the first time he has played in a little while. He is a huge, internationally respected artist that is coming to Herefordshire - the crew were more excited about announcing Roots Manuva than any other act before."

She added: "We wanted to make the line-up bigger and better this year and I think we have done that. It's going to be just as diverse as ever."

Also confirmed in the first wave of acts are the Skints and their East London reggae sound, who have a reputation for energetic and passionate live-performances that blend dub, ska and punk into the mix as well.

Then there is Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, the alter-ego of rapper Jim Burke, who will be giving everyone an elocution lesson as a pioneer of 'chap-hop' or hip hop delivered Received Pronunciation.

Known for its fancy dress friendly themes, this year the festival will be going prehistoric and rolling back time to the Land That Noz Forgot and Ella says there will be "plenty to see" on site with certain areas being extended.

The Hidden Valley has nine stages, many nooks and crannies and is set around a ramshackle Tudor farmhouse, with the Orchard Stage sitting at the foot of a natural arena, the eclectic Garden Stage and the converted cowshed that is the Cubicles offering thumping bass and dubstep through to the early hours.

It join the dots between various genres and also combines DJs, arts, comedy, workshops, cinema and performance theatre in one package that is family-friendly by day and party by night.

Two further major line-up announcements will be made in the next two weeks